Hofstra student shot in home robbery was killed by police, officials say

The New York college student who was shot during a home robbery early Friday was killed by police gunfire, officials said at a news conference Saturday.

Nassau Co. Police

Nassau County police on Saturday named 30-year-old Dalton Smith of Hempstead as the man who attempted to rob the off-campus home where Hofstra University junior Andrea Rebello was shot and killed.

According to NBC New York affiliate WNBC, Nassau County Police said Andrea Rebello, 21, was killed by police fire, not by the armed gunman attempting to rob the off-campus house where she lived with her twin sister, Jessica, and several other women.

Police identified Saturday the man allegedly involved in the home robbery as Dalton Smith, 30, of Hempstead.

According to WNBC, Rebello, a Hofstra University student, and Smith were both shot and killed as he was trying to back out of a rear door holding the woman in a headlock and pointing a gun to her head, police said.

An officer fired eight rounds, seven of which hit the suspect and one that hit Rebello, police said, according to WNBC.

According to a police statement, officers responding to a robbery in progress arrived on scene at 2:30 a.m. to find Smith armed with a gun. Three female victims -- the two sister and a third woman -- and one male victim were held inside the home, according to police. Wearing a ski mask, Smith had forced his way inside the house, according to WNBC.

Smith allowed the third unidentified woman to leave, and she called 911, WNBC reported.

Police say Smith was on parole for robbery in the first degree and had an extensive criminal history that includes assault.

A warrant for his arrest was issued last month for absconding from parole.